Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-04-22

The Oriental domes and mosque like PIN
nacles of Odessa suggest Constantinople or
Bagdad and the filthy boggars who lounge
within the court-yards Of the sacred edi-
fees make the illusion disgustngly real. It
is in this great wheat market city, called
" the Chicago of Russia, that the stranger
gets his first glimpse of Eastern life. The
stately public buildings, the bazaar like shop
windows, the abiect appearance of the
beggars, the ferocity of the lleas, and the
infinite number of dogs are more real than
the arabian Nights to an imaginative mind
The summer nights are cool, but during the
day the sun floods the earth with its scorch
ing rays. The evenings are usually spent
at the tea-gardens, which are feature of
all Russian towns They are like the large
beer gardens of Germany, only tea is
drunk instead of beer. 1t is called " chui
pronounced " chi W aud served in Bohe
mian cut-glass " tumbiers' with Jumps of
loaf sugar and slices of lemon. Chai is the
universal drink, and the samovar in which
it is made is a symbol of Russian hospitality.
This curious teapot is "A brass or copper yes
sci, shaped not unlike an urn The ordina-
ry household samovar is from one to two
feet high, and ten inches in diameter, pol
ingeniously constructed that, with II hot
charcoal fire burning in its little furnace, it
may stand on table for hours without
scorching the cloth. Some of the very eX-
| pensive samovars are as large as a barrel
and as high us a mans head, but all are
made on the same principle that is, Il
| straight pipe or iiue runs perpendlcuaily
| through the center of the vessel, which is
| filled with water. The tlue projects at the
top of the samovar like a little round chin
ney. When the charcoal is well kinded,
and the water boils, Il few spoonfuls of
! black tea are put in IA small china tenpot,
which is filled with hot water drawn from
the faucet of the samovar. Then the tea
| pot is set over the chimney, in which Sc
rics of holes Just below its mouth prevents
stoppage Of the draught. When the tea is
thoroughly " stepped aud the liquid very
dark, little is poured into the guest s
glass, which is then filed with the boiling
water from the samovar. There is say
ing in Russia that hospitality never ceases
while there is water in tho samuvur. The
water in the teapot is never allowed to boil,
and only the best tea that the host can at
ford is used 1t costs all the way from one
to thirty dollars II pound and merchants
make business of bringing it overland
across the deserts from China hy expensive
tea caravans. 1t is generally believed III
Russia that n sea-voyuge destroys the pc
culiar flavor of the chat The best quality
such as is used for the imperial table is
transported in leather bags enclosed II
carefully sealed cases to prevent contact
with the atmosphere This kind of tea i
worth from thirty to forty dollar, a pound
Various grades of Russian tea are sold IL
Paris, where also samavors of beautiful
designs can be purchased for twenty 81
thirty dollars apiece The ordinary tea q
Russia is far superior to any tea drunk IL
this country or in England in fact it's de
licious flavor is unknown, and cannot he
initiated by the most skilful preparation q
English tea. Crystaliled white sugar i
used 10y the Russian tea drinkers, and
slice Of lemon gives the liquid an exquisite
flavor, but cream or milk is never seen 81
a tea-table Wealthy people often use iel
lies. From six to twenty glasses Of cha
are often drunk by single person at "A sit
ting and Mt private parties the guests re
main until very late. In the tea garden
bands of musicians play regular program
during the evenings, while the Fashionable
ladies and gentlemen of the city drink &C.
and discuss the gossip of the hour.-H'T
! Upi'S Nrguzine for IDITi